SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT BIRTH IS NATURAL, NORMAL AND HEALTHY.

A doula at the delivery has been proven to shorten labor,improve mother's satisfaction and reduce the need for painmedications.

Don't allow anyone at the delivery who doesn't have faiththat you can labor without medication. Kick out or do notinvite any "Nervous Nellies."

Do your research by talking to childbirth educators, surfingthe web and reading books on childbirth. You have to know whyand what you want to make this a reality.

CHOOSE A PHYSICIAN WHO IS SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR BIRTH WISHES.

If you will be laboring in a hospital, your doctor can make orbreak your experience to have natural childbirth.

Choose someone wisely who will allow you to have your birthexperience, not theirs.

Plan ahead: Labor is too late to start talking about what youwant.

If you belong to a group of doctors and will not have youroriginal doctor at delivery, you may need to be more aggressivewith your desires.

Be sure to have a doula, especially if you don't know who is oncall for your delivery. A doula's continuous service can helpachieve your goals during birth.

ATTEND A CHILDBIRTH CLASS THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF NATURAL BIRTH.

Not all childbirth classes are the same. Some hospital basedprograms promote what the doctors want them to teach, notevidence-based research surrounding the normalcy of labor.

Some instructors don't emphasize relaxation and/or techniquesto support natural childbirth.

There are some great childbirth educators and methods (Lamaze,Bradley, Birthing From Within, Hypbirth and others) who promotenatural birth. Call around and search the Internet for oneright for you.

RELAXATION TECHNIQUES

Relaxation takes away the pain of childbirth

It's necessary to practice daily

Take pre-natal yoga classes or a childbirth class thatemphasizes relaxation.

Relaxation and the right support help you achieve your birthdreams.

Julie L. Johnson is a wife and mother of three who has experienced every pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and breastfeeding situation there is and has lived to tell about. She is a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator, Certified Doula and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant practicing in Southern California. Her website http://www.birth-angel.com provides services and products to help ease the transition into motherhood.

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